Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Diabetic Retinopathy among Diabetic Patients in Central Province of Saudi Arabia: A Hospital-Based Prospective and Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Diabetic Retinopathy is a common microvascular complication in diabetic patients that remains the leading cause of blindness worldwide. 
Objectives: To determine knowledge, attitude, and practice of diabetic retinopathy (KAP) in patients and find any association between an overall score of knowledge, attitude, practice, and some selected demographic variables.
Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study surveyed 500 diabetic retinopathy patients. Patients were recruited from the diabetic clinic at a tertiary hospital. Data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire with nine knowledge questions, eight attitude questions, and seven practice questions. 
Results:  Out of the five hundred patients, 434 (86.8%) were aware of the proper way of diagnosing diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, 321 (46.2%) only had reasonable knowledge that poor control of diabetes was the factor that caused the worsening of diabetic retinopathy. Good knowledge about diabetic retinopathy was significantly higher in the age group of ≤50 years. The good attitude was significantly higher in males. Good practice about diabetic retinopathy was evident with families with 6 – 10 members. A total of 61% of patients knew that diabetes affected the human eye; 58.2% knew that diabetic retinopathy might cause blindness; and 53.4% of patients had the practice to go for regular ophthalmology check-ups.  
Conclusion:  Our study concluded that satisfactory knowledge, attitude, and practice scores among diabetes mellitus patients regarding diabetic retinopathy. Lack of awareness about retinopathy may lead to severe consequences like blindness and mandate regular check-ups of diabetic retinopathy. Hence, health education is needed for diabetic patients regarding this risk.